Dickson Etuhu will give 'em stick

Dickson Etuhu will turn text pest to remind a few old mates how Fulham gave them six of the best

I know Mark and what his teams are like, always playing a high-pressure game

Dickson Etuhu

The midfielder came off the bench as QPR were hit for six without reply at Craven Cottage in a one-sided west London derby last October.

And the Fulham ace is hoping for more of the same when the teams come face to face again at Loftus Road today.

He has plenty of friends at Rangers – including former team-mate Bobby Zamora – and admits they will get some stick before kick-off.

But Etuhu claims there is no chance of such a humiliating scoreline happening again now that Mark Hughes is in charge at QPR.

Etuhu said: “I fancy us to beat them again, to be honest. But it will be a much more difficult game this time.

“They will be a different side now because of Mark Hughes. He will keep them up, definitely. I have no doubt in my mind about that.

“QPR have a few players who are good friends of mine. I played with Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joey Barton at Manchester City.

“And I know Jay Bothroyd and Bobby Zamora well. Shaun’s on Blackberry messenger a lot. He’s a good friend.

“Obviously the manager is there as well now. They are all good guys. They will get a lot of stick, but it will be in good humour.

“They will definitely be out for revenge after what happened at Craven Cottage. Losing 6-0 was quite embarrassing for them.

“But Andy Johnson was on fire at the time, scoring a hat-trick. It looked very easy, but we were just on our game.”

Etuhu is still shocked at the way Hughes walked out on Fulham last summer, claiming the club could not match his ambition.

Speaking at the FIFA Interactive World Cup on FIFA 12, he said: “We were shocked and were all calling each other to find out if it was true. We had just finished the season in eighth place in the Premier League.

“Of course we were surprised he went to QPR after saying Fulham couldn’t match his ambitions, but he had his reasons.

“We wish him all the best now. I know Mark and what his teams are like, always playing a high-pressure game.

“He has great belief in his players as well. You always felt you had a chance with him. But we have another great manager in Martin Jol.”

Etuhu has not been a regular since Jol’s arrival but is determined to force his way back into the starting line-up.

He said: “I have two-and-a-half years left on my contract and I still have a lot to offer. I’m going to fight for my spot.”